Shloka 37

Adhyāya 107 — बहुयुद्धप्रकरणम्

Multiple Defensive Engagements to Protect Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

ततः सरथनागाश्चा: पाण्डवा: पाण्डुपूर्वज । परिवत्रू रणे भीष्मं माधवत्राणकारणात्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ sa-ratha-nāgāś ca pāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍu-pūrvaja | parivavru raṇe bhīṣmaṃ mādhava-trāṇa-kāraṇāt ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是般度之子们在战车、战马与战象的掩护下，于战场上合围毗湿摩。噢，般度的长兄啊，他们如此行事，是为护佑摩陀婆的盟友——萨底耶迦。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• स-रथ-नागाः: those with chariots and elephants (i.e., chariots and elephants)
• स-रथ-नागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ/नाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डु-पूर्वज: O elder brother of Pandu (i.e., Dhritarashtra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• परिवव्रुः: surrounded, encompassed
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• माधव-त्राण-कारणात्: because of (as) the cause of Madhava's protection (i.e., to protect Madhava/Satyaki)
• माधव-त्राण-कारणात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pāṇḍu
• Bhīṣma
• Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Sātyaki
• chariots
• horses
• war-elephants
• battlefield

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic motive within warfare: the Pāṇḍavas concentrate their forces not merely to strike a famed elder (Bhīṣma), but to protect a threatened ally (Sātyaki), presenting protection and loyalty as legitimate drivers of martial action.

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield, the Pāṇḍavas arrive with a combined force of chariots, cavalry, and elephants and surround Bhīṣma from all sides, doing so to rescue/protect Sātyaki, who is associated with Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa).